The Strength of Three (3 page)

Then she recovered and pushed away. TJ had scooted closer so there wasn’t far to go. Chris straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “My father never drank around us either.”

Chapter Two

“Your father is a fucking moron.” Jon sighed when Chris gasped and tried to jerk farther away. He had wanted to get her fears out in the open, just not in this particular environment. A room full of witnesses had not been his ideal, but establishing that he and TJ would never drink around her was first and foremost in earning her trust. He also knew she wouldn’t have come if they’d had this party at a bar like Kyle had originally wanted. Jon and Teej had vetoed his plans immediately.

The last thing they wanted was for her to stay away from a company party based on its location. Especially when the minx was proving to be a bit stubborn in the subtle flirtation department. It was time to bring out the big guns, but short of kidnapping her and thus terrifying her, they had to woo. Wooing wasn’t as easy as it looked. Not when it involved someone with a past like Chris’s. Jon would give anything to wipe the look of unease from her face right now. A wild romp in bed might cure it.

Everything else revolved around her trust in them. Without it, they had nothing, and nothing was out of the question. He and TJ were determined to make Chris theirs in every way possible. If she started out thinking they only wanted a fling, they would quickly disillusion her.

Jon wished they were anywhere but here. They needed somewhere they could talk in private. But he’d known from the get-go she wouldn’t just up and leave with them. It would take time and planning and a little help from her best friend Aislinn. Since he knew getting Chris here was half the battle, he’d implored Aislinn to help. Whatever she’d done or said to Chris had worked. Seeing her walk in with that flowing skirt just about knocked the breath from his lungs. His dick was rock hard and this close to her, smelling her, it was near to exploding without even being touched.

He knew there’d be a battle easing her into their lifestyle. Hell, half the battle would be seeing to her comfort around men in general. She had nice diversionary tactics, hiding behind her attitude or flirting from a distance. None of which fazed him or TJ in the least. There wasn’t much in the world that could faze two ex Special Forces team members and they for damn sure weren’t going to back down without a fight.

Jon swiped his thumb across one of her pink cheeks, counting it as a victory when she didn’t flinch or pull away. He couldn’t wait to see them flushed with the pleasure he and TJ would grace upon her. Would she scream out one or both of their names? Was she the silent type, a moaner? Based on the rapid pulse at her throat, he could tell she wasn’t as unaffected by him as she would like to think she was.

“The difference between your father and TJ and I is that we won’t drink,
ever
.” He enunciated very clearly, giving her no room to misinterpret. “If there’s ever a time you don’t feel comfortable, you just have to tell us.”

She snorted. “I’m not comfortable. Back off.” She raised her hands and pushed at his chest in an attempt to create space between them. He gave her a modicum and laughed. They’d never get anywhere if they let her have her way every time.

The shrill ring of a cell phone interrupted them. Chris never took her gaze off him. The phone rang again and she lifted her glass and sipped. TJ moved closer. “You gonna answer that?”

Chris did a double take. “What?”

“Your pocket is ringing, sugar,” Jon offered.

“Huh? Oh. Oh, crap.” She fumbled in the pocket of her skirt for the slim pink flip phone he knew she carried.

He just smiled. She was fucking gorgeous when riled, which was most of the time around them. They seemed to bring it out of her in spades. There was the flush, this time from frustration. Soon it would be courtesy of an explosive orgasm given by him or Teej.

“Hello?” She stuck a finger in her ear to drown out the noise. “Carter? Is that you?”

Carter. Chris’s younger brother, who, from Jon’s background search into the Marshall family, seemed to follow in Daddy’s footsteps. At least in the mean department. Christina had done the smart thing, getting away from her family.

“No, I do not have any money.”

TJ stood, exchanging a knowing look over her head with Jon. They both disliked the tone they heard in her voice.

“Well, geez, I don’t know, Carter. Get a job like everyone else in the world maybe?” She paused and her eyes widened. “I will never fund your disgusting habit. I work too hard for the money I earn to waste it on you.”

Shit. If the kid had a habit and needed money for a fix, things could get ugly fast. Faster if he owed money he didn’t have.

A second later her eyes narrowed into slits. “You leave Mother out of this.” She paused. “I already regret it.” She slammed the flip closed and growled.

“Carter’s bothering you again?” Aislinn asked across the table.

“Again?” TJ and Jon barked together. Jon saw red. If the little punk had taken to messing with Chris, Jon would put an end to it really quickly.

“He says he needs money to pay his rent.”

“And you know he’s lying, right?” Aislinn came around the table, nudging Jon out of the way with a sharp elbow to his stomach. He stepped back with an oomph while TJ and Kyle snickered. He flipped them both off.

“After last month? Yes, I know.”

“What the hell happened last month?” TJ snarled. Jon wanted to know the exact same thing and more. Like how they’d missed her brother’s problems when running a background check on her, something they did with everyone who worked for their company. Chris’s had been a little more involved since both of them knew she would inevitably end up in their bed. With their past in the Teams, it was both a habit and a necessity. He, Teej and Kyle had pissed off more than one baddy out there who would stop at nothing to seek revenge. A loved one would be an easy target.

Before Chris could answer, Aislinn said, “Carter drove all the way from Chicago and showed up at her door begging for money for some overdue bill he had. When she offered to take him to the phone company to pay it for him, he flipped out saying he could handle it on his own. Then he tore through her house, grabbed her wallet and stole all the cash she had in there.”

“Motherfucker.” Jon wanted to put his fist through a wall. Or better yet, Carter’s face. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell us?”

Chris drew back, one eyebrow raised high. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would I?”

Damn. Why would she? They didn’t exactly have a relationship. Yet.

Starting right now, they did and he’d be goddamned if he let her junkie of a brother run roughshod over her again.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe so we could help?”

“I think I can handle my own brother.”

Jon snorted. “You handled him so well he ran you over to steal your money. How much did he get?”

“I don’t see how it’s any of your—”

“How much?”

“A hundred and twenty bucks.”

Feeling the muscle ticking along his jaw, he nodded once. “Do you think you’ve heard the last of him tonight?”

“I don’t know. What does it matter?”

“You matter,” Jon growled and leaned closer so she had no choice but to look him in the eye. “TJ and I are done waiting for you.” He saw the flash of heat flare in her eyes. Hell, he could smell the moisture pooling between her legs. She could deny it all she wanted, but her body craved what he and Teej could offer. “We’re not like your father or your brother and the only way you’ll see that is to let us close. Probably won’t be easy for you, but I can damn well guarantee it’ll be worth it.”

Her eyes widened, her nostrils flared with each inhalation, and the pulse at the base of her throat sped up. He wanted to lean in and lick it, to taste her and leave his mark. Not here though. He straightened. If his dick got any harder, he’d be popping out of his jeans. Wouldn’t that be something?

“I don’t”—she had to clear her throat—“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sex, Chris. Remember the conversation we were having earlier?” Aislinn butt in.

“
Aislinn.
” Chris’s hissed reprimand made Jon laugh out loud. Oh God the woman was priceless. He’d wondered what they’d been talking about when she’d yelled out across the bar.

“What?” Aislinn said innocently. “I’m just getting you back for a little incident that happened at work a couple of months ago. Remember there was something about a feather duster?”

“That was your fault. You’re the one who asked Kyle if he had a duster but didn’t expound on what kind, or that we’d been imagining them wearing dusters, cowboy hats and nothing el— Oh my God.” Chris’s eyes closed. “Please tell me I didn’t just say that out loud.”

“What kind of conversation were you having, Ais?” TJ grinned like a loon, ignoring Chris’s suddenly bright red cheeks.

“I told her to have an affair, get it over with.”

Jon was sure by the murderous look on Chris’s face Aislinn was in line for a not-so-quick, painful death. Time to get Chris out of here.

TJ snorted. “I’m not looking for an affair.”

“Me neither,” Jon grunted.

Chris swung her startled gaze back and forth between them. Aislinn smiled sweetly.

Somewhere Chris found her voice, but what came out wasn’t what Jon expected. A wounded, embarrassed look overtook her features. “Well. I wasn’t looking for an affair either.” She hopped off the stool and took off toward the door.

“Ah hell,” TJ muttered.

Jon cut off her flight. “Never said nothing about not wanting you, Christina, just said I wasn’t looking for an
affair
.” Her back went ramrod straight as she halted in mid-stride.

She looked back over her shoulder and Jon saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. Fuck.

“Teej, it’s time to go.”

“Yep.” TJ slapped some bills on the table and saluted Kyle.

Jon never took his gaze off Chris. She swallowed and he’d bet his Beamer sitting outside her nipples were hard as rocks.

“See you Monday, Kyle,” he said, insinuating with his tone they didn’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the weekend. It was past time for them to start showing her they could be trusted with her life. He couldn’t wait.

TJ met Chris where she’d come to a dead stop and took hold of her elbow.

“What are you doing?” Her not-so-outraged squeak didn’t even turn heads.

“Escorting you to the car, ma’am.” TJ grinned again. The man could melt butter with that grin. Jon had long ago decided it was one of the reasons women were so attracted to him.

“But I came with Ais—”

“Guys. Hold up,” Aislinn called and hurried over to them. “’Scuse us a sec, huh?” She grabbed Chris’s hand and retreated, pulling Chris with her.

“Chris, I want you to know I will back you one hundred percent if you don’t want this, it’s just, I can see how you look at them at work and I
know
from overhearing them with Kyle they want you, and if you hate me forever for having sprung this on you, that’s okay, but”—Jon could see Aislinn wince and hear every word she said—“I kinda, sorta gave ’em the keys to your house because they said they wanted a few things to make you more comfortable with them and damn, this whole thing is all my fault and I’m sorry.”

So far Chris hadn’t been able to get a word in edgewise. Jon put his weight on one leg and waited, holding his breath for her response. If she said no, they’d turn around and leave and never bring it up again. Until next time, anyway. He couldn’t see her face but her shoulders slumped and Jon knew they’d been defeated. TJ must have felt the same.

“Come on, man, let’s go.” TJ’s voice was detached and flat.

“Can you take a breath now? Sheesh,” Chris muttered. Jon stood straighter, hope sparking to life. TJ’s hand fisted in the shirt at Jon’s shoulder. He’d heard too.

“The truth is… God I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I want this too. How will I ever know if I can make something work if I don’t try and maybe these two are safe, ya know? Because of work and all?”

Safe?
Jon wanted to howl at the moon. Fuck yeah they were safe. He’d give her his gun if he had to, to prove how safe they were.

“Are you hearing what I’m hearing?” TJ growled in his ear.

“Yep.”

“Will you come get me if it doesn’t…you know, if I freak out or something? Maybe you could hang out in your car. Oh, God, what am I doing, Ais?” Chris groaned.

Aislinn grinned from ear to ear. “You’re doing what feels right, Chris, believe in that. I know you, you wouldn’t get near this situation with a hundred-foot pole if it didn’t make you feel right inside.”

Chris shrugged. It took everything Jon had not to go to her, to give her the time she needed to come to them. If she turned around right now and said she only wanted to talk, they’d take it. They would hate it and have to relieve major cases of blue balls another way, but they’d take it. Anything to get her to feel comfortable with them.

“You’re right.” Chris nodded sharply once and Jon saw her shoulders rise with the deep breath she took. “I can do this. I
want
to do this. I’m going to have sex.”

Jon smiled and wondered if she knew they could hear her. She twisted and looked back over her shoulder and her face colored a pretty dark shade of pink indicating that she probably knew now. She faced Aislinn again and he heard her mutter, “They heard me say I wanted to have sex, didn’t they?”